7th Sunday after Pentecost: 23 July – Matthew 13: 24-43 ~ God will sort it all out

7th Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

O God, patient and forbearing, you alone know fully the goodness of what you have made. Strengthen our spirit when we are slow and temper our zeal when we are rash, that in your own good time you may produce in us a rich harvest from the seed you have sown and tended. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“Indescribable” – Chris Tomlin

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Reading: Matthew 13: 24-43 (NLT)

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Parable of the Yeast

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:

“I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
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Intercessory Prayer

Heavenly Father: Fill us with your Spirit, that we might know how to pray –

+ For all believers who try to live faithfully, that they may have the grace to rise above the evil around them…. Lord, hear us.

+ For an end to war and all forms of conflict, that believers everywhere might live peaceful, quiet lives with dignity…. Lord, hear us.

+ For believers who suffer under oppression and persecution, that they may see justice done, in your time…. Lord, hear us.

+ For those among us who are finding life difficult, that the goodness of believing friends may bring them through…. Lord, hear us.

+ For all who lack the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter, that you may send help their way, through the efforts of believers…. Lord, hear us.

+ For those whose earthly journey is over, especially those who have lost children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters due to famine, violence and war…. Lord, hear us.

God of love and compassion, you do marvelous deeds: attend to our prayers and have mercy on us, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Before the throne of God above” – Kingsway Music

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Concluding Prayer – Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Sat, 22 July – Colossians 3-4 ~ set your sights on the realities of heaven

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Colossians 3-4 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Think About The Things Of Heaven

Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT) – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Lord God: You have claimed me as your own through faith and baptism, and made me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Continue the good work you have begun in me – that there might be less of me in me, and more of Christ in me – that my true life in Christ might be revealed.

Put to death your old nature

+ Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.

+ Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

+ Get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Put on your new nature

+ Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

+ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

+ Clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

+ Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts; and always be thankful.

Devote Yourselves To Prayer

Colossians 4:2 (NLT) – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Lord God: Thank you for allowing to approach your throne of grace through faith in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for your mercy and help in this our time of need.

+ That you might give us many opportunities to speak about your plan concerning Christ.

+ That we might proclaim this message as clearly as we should.

+ That we might live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

+ That our conversations might be gracious and attractive – the right response for everyone.

Lord God: I ask that the message about Christ, in all its richness, might fill our lives. And that whatever we do or say, might be done and said as representatives of our Lord Jesus, always giving thanks through him to you, our heavenly Father.

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“Eternity” – John Alexander Wilson

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Fri, 21 July – Luke 21-22 ~ “I want to know Christ”

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Luke 21-22 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT) – I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Lord Jesus: All who put their faith and trust in you want to know you more, at least in theory. But in practice, it gets a lot harder – sharing in your suffering and death. We want to get through Good Friday as quickly as possible, so that we can live forever as Easter people; but that’s not quite the way it works, as you tell us in today’s reading.

Expect Opposition

Luke 21:12 (NLT) – “There will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers….”

Lord Jesus: You warned believers to expect opposition as we live out our faith – putting into practice what you preached; and so it has played out for 2000 years in every generation and every tribe and nation. For some it has meant prejudice, mockery and ridicule, but for others it has meant imprisonment, torture and death.

+ Lord, in your mercy, give us the courage of our convictions to face opposition in whatever form it takes
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us wisdom and the right words to speak the undeniable truth of your Word
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us perseverance to stand firm until our life’s end, even when family and friends turn against us
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us the strength to stay alert to danger and to be prepared for your imminent return

New Covenant

Luke 22:19-20 (NLT) – He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

Lord Jesus: Thank you for instituting the sacrament of holy communion as a sign and seal of your covenant with us.

+ Thank you for your presence with us in this most holy sacrament
+ Help us to enter into this holy mystery with reverence and awe
+ Thank you for permitting your body to be broken that our bodies may be made whole
+ Thank you for pouring out your innocent blood, once and for all, for the forgiveness of our sins
+ Thank you for your assuring us in this holy mystery that we are heirs of your eternal kingdom

Watch and pray

Luke 22:45-46 (NLT) – At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Lord Jesus: You alone understood the enormity of the sacrifice you were about to make. We cannot begin to understand your agony of spirit.

+ Forgive us our ignorance and sustain us in our prayer life
+ Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil
+ Fill us with your Spirit and lead us on the path of right living, and
+ Stay with us and watch over us, even when we fall asleep on you

I ask this for your name’s sake. Amen.
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“Beneath the Cross”

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Thu, 20 July – Ezekiel 37-42 ~ come alive

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Ezekiel 37-42 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

A Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:11-14 (NLT) – Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

Sovereign Lord: You scattered your people among the nations and reduced them to a point of near extinction – hopeless, old dry bones. But you never forgot them; and, in your mercy, you poured out your Spirit and breathed life into them – that they might return home to the land you promised them.

And, in our time, you have done it again with the establishment of the secular state of Israel. Pour out your Spirit and raise up a godly people within that state – that Israel might know that you are the Lord – that they are your people and you are their God.

An Everlasting Covenant

Ezekiel 37:24,26-28 (NLT) – “My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd…. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy.”

Sovereign Lord: You have made a new and everlasting covenant with your church through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ . You have placed your Spirit within her and established Jesus as her Head – the Shepherd King.

+ Rule and reign in the hearts of these your people;

+ Encourage the faithful that they may bear good fruit;

+ Raise the dead that they may return home to you;

+ Protect those who are oppressed and persecuted;

+ Supply all the needs of your people, especially those who are destitute;

+ Make us one in mind and spirit, through faith and baptism; and

+ Establish your presence among us through true, Spirit-filled worship.

Sovereign Lord: Look upon your covenant people, both Jew and Christian, with mercy and love. Pour out your Spirit on us, and breathe life into our dry bones and dead hearts. Raise up an army of believers to face the challenges of our troubled world with faith and trust in you; an army that will show the world that you alone can save. May your Kingdom come and your will be done, through Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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“Come Alive” – Lauren Daigle

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Wed, 19 July – Proverbs 13-14 ~ accept discipline and practice godliness

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Proverbs 13-14 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Accept Discipline

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT) – No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Father God: Thank you for your unfailing love for me. And thank you for caring enough to discipline me – to correct me when I’m wrong and to set me on the path of godliness.

+ Help me to swallow my pride and accept your discipline and correction.

+ Give me an open heart to welcome your criticism and life-giving instruction into my life.

+ And give me the wisdom to know when and how to correct my own adult children that they may remain on the path that leads to life – abundant and eternal.

Practice Godliness

1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) – “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

Lord God: Give me the personal discipline required to train for godliness; strengthen me, by the power of your Spirit, in prayer, reflection on your Word, worship and service.

By your grace, allow me to realize some of the benefits along the way, in this life –

+ honesty, integrity, and a good reputation;

+ a life filled with light and joy;

+ an inheritance of blessing for my children and grandchildren;

+ proper fear and respect for you Lord – my life-giving fountain;

+ confession of my guilt before you that I may receive your forgiveness and reconciliation;

+ and faithfulness to your good plan for my life – that I may live my life enveloped in your unfailing love.

Finally, I ask that my life might contribute in a small way to the godliness of my nation – that America may become great again – through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“All I Once Held Dear” – Robin Mark